Right on...
So - I got the bike back and it was wonderful.. (no idea why these links won't resolve - I've left them raw as they are annoying me
https://www.flickr.com/photos/151932600 ... res/63kHg0
Had TD booked for Anglesey and got it all packed up, ready to rock and set off to the track. I got to the motorway and the van started showing me battery light issues.. i.e - not charging. oh dear. It was intermittent but was worrying.
It was getting into the evening and I stopped at Chester services to have a look - multimeter check tells me that it was not charging..oh dear.
I set off again, not really sure what I was going to do and fairly quickly the light came on permanently.. It was pissing down as I crossed into Wales near Buckley and I was getting more worried - what was I going to do! Soon going to be dark and if I put the lights on then I was going to drain the battery even faster and be stuck, overnight, on the A55 - a sketchy place to have to dump the dead van.
I pulled off into the McDonalds services that are at the start of the A55 adn put a post up on PB forum... Letting them know I would not be at the track and why.
Within minutes, Paul, aka Mr CRM, called me to ask where I was and what was up - he lives about 10 minutes away :) Legend that he is, he drove out to meet me and I followed him to his gaff. Showed me his puppies, err, bikes, and fed me some tea and put me up for the night. Super star legend. We also got the van onto charge and I was going to make a run for it home in the morning.
So, long story short -Paul is a gentleman and you would all love to have a look in the garage of exciting bikes that he has.
I made it home..but no9 had not had the trackday needed to shake down
However...
I was offered a place at Mallory on the 4th October - so I took that and rolled on down there.
Did 4 sessions - I was rusty and it was scary to be honest. Cool, slicks, bike that has not moved for some time.
Only took 2 pics - the massive insurance job of lockwiring my brakes up - not wanting to have to jump off a bike again
https://www.flickr.com/photos/151932600 ... res/J27np0
https://www.flickr.com/photos/151932600 ... res/Q91s4N
Bike behaved, ran nicely and overall - it was really cool to get back on track.
So... 12th October I booked Cadwell for my birthday.
Was cold...brrrrr I met a mate and stayed in Horncastle the night before - few beers and a socially distanced Chinese FTW
Trackday was fucking cold and I had my warmers and my tyre socks tingies to try to get some temperature into them. Bike was looking groovy and I spent the morning fitting my brand spanking SES rearesets. my current Battelstep WR ones are tired and need a fettle.
I was out in Novice
and took it steady for the first few laps.
IT WAS COLD
First session completed, track dry adn the bike loving the COLD air. I was also finding my mojo and was so much more relaxed than I was last week at Mallory.
Second Session - I won it. It was a wonderful feeling to thrash the little bike and I was never overtaken (that stuck - i.e up the start finish or Park straights) and was generally just enjoying it.
Third session, much the same - some cheeky knee down and reminding myself how this riding shit all works.
Fourth session. COLD - getting darker as the clouds are heavy and rain is coming. I was going really well in the session and all was great til I turned into the top of the Gooseneck, onto the colder left hadn side of the tyre...and it jsut pushed and slid away like you would when slipping on mud.
Smacked down, SKKRRSSHHH and a bit ofa tumble - what a surprise! Shit! Fingertips were singing with the cold smack onto the track and I was almost laughing at myself. What the fuck!
Waved OK to the marshalls and went to check on my bike..
Engine was running... so I turned that off.. Rearsets...fucked.. GRRR
Generally though...alright. The van of shame came to collect me and took the bike away as I got a ride in the ambulance back to the paddock.
I have never fallen off like that before.
Ihave only fallen off a bike 3 times
1: At the start of my riding - 2004? - I ran No9 into a wall as I was a useless twat and that set me on the way to learning.
2: I fell off my race bike at Mallory as thought I had a puncture, rode onto the (frozen) grass at Mallory park and toppled off.. that was 2009/2010?
3: Jumped off my ZX10 when I had no braked (A la Vinales at Austria - I was faster and hit the barriers harder..pussy. He fell off the back, I jumped up and off the side.) That was shit.
I have never actually dropped it like this. It felt...good! My desire to ride is back. The bike is going to be OK and so all is well.
Bruising was a minger though - who thought that crashing could actually hurt!
I took a pic of the bike after I packed him into the van..
https://www.flickr.com/photos/151932600 ... res/032V0h
So, all in all - We're alright. What's next? new rearsets...maybe a paintjob and probably some new tyres.
Jerez is cancelled - I have booked Portimao instead
Am not taking No9 though, it would be too harsh and so next year, all being well, I'll get a few TDs in and see how we roll
